Addressing the Mental Health and Well-Being of Educators Through Self and Collective Care

October 15, 2020

 

A growing body of research suggests that teaching is one of the most stressful occupations in the United States. An alarming 46% of educators teaching grades K-12 experience high levels of daily stress (or chronic stress) throughout the school year, which is comparable to levels reported by nurses (46%) and physicians (45%). Chronic occupational stress, such as working long hours and having excessive workloads, negatively impacts educators’ attitudes toward their work, as well as their health and well-being. Educators who are under chronic stress are more likely to experience burnout and job dissatisfaction and exhibit poor performance in their classroom instruction. The effects of these challenges are indicated by rates of teacher turnover, which, in many cases, is directly tied to stress and job dissatisfaction. It is estimated that 10% of teachers leave the profession after one year, and 17% leave within five years. Within urban districts, up to 70% of teachers leave within their first year of teaching.

 

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